With the 80th anniversary of D Day a few weeks ago and with the July 4th holiday, my thoughts turn toward the uncle I never knew. Almost 133,000 troops from the United States, the British Commonwealth and their allies landed on June 6, 1944. Out of that landing force 4,414 allied troops were killed including 2,501 Americans. My uncle was killed in the landing on the beaches of Normandy. So many of the soldiers were killed that it took a long time to return the bodies to the United States for burial. Another uncle was notified to meet the train in Cincinnati to claim the body for transport to their small home town. My father's family never recovered from the loss. To this day my cousin places flowers on the graves of the three brothers who served in World War II.
As we celebrate the 4th of July and the freedoms we enjoy in our country, let's remember the sacrifice of so many families throughout our history.
Let Freedom Ring!
